Trolley-harp.



No. 829,641. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. D. 1.. ETLY.

' TRO-LLEY HARP. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1905.

WITNESSES mmQmwlek f INVENTOR UNITED sTArns PATENT .ori ion.

Specification of Letters {Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Applicatianfiled December 13,1905. summit. 291,545.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .DAVID J. ETLY, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Trolley- Harp, of which the following'is a .full, clear,

and exact description, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trolleyharp embodying my invention. Fig. v2 is;a

front elevation, partlyin section; and Fig. .3 is a detail view of one. oftheremovablejharp.'

arms or forks.

My invention has relation to theclassof trolleyharps, and is designed to provide novel and eflicient means whereby the trolley-wheel is preventedfrom jumping and leaving the overhead conductor ;,.and it consists in providing a wheel with movable or yielding laterallyarranged guards which normally serve to increase the depth of the wheel-groove, but which will readily yield in passing overhead switches and other over head suspension devices.

A further feature of my invention consists in the provision of means whereby trolleywheels may be quickly, and readily removed and replaced.

In the drawings, 2 designates the harp, having the arms 3,provided at their upper end portions with bearings 4 for the shaft or spindle 5 of the grooved wheel 6. This wheel 6 has the usual V-shaped groove in its periphery; but the wheel is preferably made somewhat wider than the ordinary wheel.

7 designates the lateral guards, which constitute the main feature of my invention. These guards consist each of an approximately circular plate whichis slotted transversely, as shown at 8, to receive loosely therethrough'the hub or boss 6 of the wheel 6, the diameter of the guard being greater than that of the wheel. The shank portion 7 a of each guard-plate is flexibly connected to the body portion 2 of the harp preferably by a coil spring 9,. in which the shank is seated and which is held by seating in a socket 10. One of these guards is placed at each side of the wheel 6, between the outer face of the wheel and the inner face of the adjacent fork-arm, sufficient space being provided to permit of a limited lateral movement of the guards as well as a free forward-and-back movement. The guard-plates are symmetrical in form, so that they may be used interchangeably at either side of the wheel, and

alsoact inthe same manner in either direct1on.of movement.

In order.to,pro,vide for the speedy removal I of the wheel and its replacement by a new .onein case of breakage on the road, botlrthe fork-arms 3 are preferablymade in separate pieces fromthe body portion 2, beingsecured theretoby athrough-bolt 11. To hold the armsrigidly in place, they are formed with the flanges .12, which engage the front and back faces of the bodyportion 2.

.In. order to prolong the life ofthe harp, the bearings 4 forthewheel shaft or spindle 5 are preferablyformed by steel bushings 4 sothatavhen a bushing becomeslworn to an undue extentit can bereadily driven out and anew. one inserted.

.Inthe. operation of my improved I harp the lateral guards, as will be seen, are normally in a position in which they serve to increase the depth of the Wheel-groove, and thereby overcome all tendency of the wheel in jumping to leave the wire. In passing underneath overhead switches or other suspension devices the guards by contact therewith are forced back against the tension of the coilsprings 9 and expose a portion of the periphery of the wheel for contact with the switch or other overhead device, so that they do not in any way interfere with the passage of the wheel by such points. As soon asthe wheel leaves the switch or other device the springs 9 at once return the guards to their normal positions. The plates 7 not only act as guards in the manner described, but they also form conducting devices for the current, whereby the springs or other contact devices usually employed for insuring constant electrical connection between the wheel and the harp-frame may be dispensed with.

The advantages of my invention consist in the simplicity of the guard devices and in the efliciency with which they operate to prevent the wheel from leaving the overhead conductor, also in the facility with which the wheel or other parts of the harp may be renewed when broken.

'What I claim is 1.1 In a trolley-harp, a harp-frame, a wheel j ournaled therein, guard-plates of approximately circular form, arranged one at each side of the wheel in planes substantially parallel with the end faces of the Wheel, and normally projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel and connections between the plates and the harp-frame arranged to permit the ITO plates to move relatively to the harp-frame and pole to positions eccentric with respect to the axis of the wheel; substantially as described.

2. In a trolley-harp, a harp-frame, a grooved wheel journaled in theframe, and guard-plates arranged at opposite sides of the wheel and projecting a short distance beyond the periphery thereof, said plates being flexibly connected to the frame at'points eccentric with respect to the axis of the wheel 1 and movable relatively to the harp-frame and pole; substantially as described.

3. In a trolley-harp, a rigid harp-frame, a wheel j ournaled therein, and guard plates or disks at opposite sides of the wheel within the frame and flexibly connected to the frame below the axis of the wheel, said plates or disks having transverse slots through Which the wheel axle or spindle loosely extends; substantially as described.

4. In a trolley-harp, a harp-frame, a wheel journaled therein, guard-disks within the frame at opposite sides of the wheel and flexible connections between the disks and the frame arranged to permit universal movement of the disks; substantially as described.

5. In a trolley-harp, a harp-frame, a Wheel j ournaled therein, guard plates or disks at opposite sides of the wheel and having downwardly-extending shanks, and coil-springs embracing the shanks and secured to the harp-frame; substantially as described.

6. In a trolley-harp, a body portion, forked arms detachably secured to the body portion and carrying bearings for the wheel-spindle, a wheel ournaled in said bearings, guardplates between the ends of the wheel and the forked arms and having downwardly-extending shanks, and coil-springs embracing the shanks and secured to the harp-frame; substantially as described.

7. In a trolley-harp, a harp-frame, a wheel journaled therein, guard plates or disks at opposite sides of the wheel and having downwardly-extending shanks, said plates or disks having also transverse slots through which the wheel-spindle extends, and coil-springs embracing the shanks and secured to the frame; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DAVID J ETLY. Witnesses:

GEO. B. BLEMING, GEO. H. PARMELEE. 

